February 14, 2003

On November 13, Congress passed legislation which is expected to lead to a positive 3.2-percent update in the Medicare anesthesia conversion factor, effective March 1. ASA President James E. Cottrell, M.D., has sent a blast e-mail to all ASA members with Internet capability, giving background information and details. Further details will be provided on this site as soon as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues regulations responsive to the new legislation. In the interim, ASA members are urged to contact their legislators to express appreciation for the congressional action. Members can access ASA's grassroots communications Web site at http://capwiz.com/asa/home/.